Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Clarence Byrle Craft

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Fayetteville National
Cemetery17-DNA-120

Born:September 23, 1921 at San
Bernardino, CA

Entered
Service in the US Army from Santa Ana, CA

Earned The Medal of Honor During World War II For
heroism May 31, 1945 at Hen Hill, Okinawa, Ryukyu
Islands

Died:March
28, 2002 at the age of 80

With five
comrades Private First Class Craft was dispatched in advance of
his company to feel out the enemy resistance. A short distance
up the slope rifle and machinegun fire wounded three and pinned
down the others. PFC Craft launched a remarkable one-man attack
in full view of the enemy. Killing Japanese soldiers with rapid
fire, driving others to cover, he reached the crest of the hill
where he stood silhouetted while throwing grenades at short
range into enemy positions. His assault lifted pressure from his
company allowing members of his platoon to advance. With a chain
of his comrades supplying him while he stood atop the hill, he
furiously hurled a total of two cases of grenades into a main
trench and other positions on Hen Hill while directing the aim
of fellow soldiers on the slope below him. He attacked the main
enemy trench, straddling the excavation, killing many and
causing others to flee. A satchel charge was brought to him, and
he tossed it into a cave. It failed to explode. He retrieved the
charge from the cave, re-lighted the fuse and threw it back,
sealing up the Japs in a tomb. In the local action, against
tremendously superior forces heavily armed with rifles,
machineguns, mortars, and grenades, Private First Class Craft
killed at least 25 of the enemy.